grown! Ostrich feathers--gold," continued the
boy, touching the bangles, "where do you get them?"

The little fellow took his spear in his right hand again and used it to
point out of the waggon in the direction where the lads had seen the
towering masses of stone on the previous night.

"Oh, come," said Dean, "he understands that."

"Yes; so do we, and I want to get off to see what sort of a place this
is. But we mustn't be rude to the visitor who brought us so much
venison. I wonder where father is."

"And the doctor," added Dean, peering out of the waggon. "Oh, there
they are, going up to the top of the kopje. Hi, Mak! Come here!"

The black was standing half way between the waggon and the top of the
kopje, shading his eyes from the newly risen sun, as he stood scanning
the veldt in different directions, but began to descend directly with
his customary deliberation as if he had nothing whatever to do with the
preparations for the morning start.

"I say, Dean, we must have breakfast before we go, this morning. We
can't send company away--and such a grandee as this--without a feed."

A few minutes later, as the boys sat silently gazing at their little
visitor, noting that in spite of being thin and rather hollow of cheek
his eyes were bright and there was no sign of weakness in his movements,
while his skin, in spite of its swarthiness, looked healthy and clean,
Mak strode up to the open end of the waggon and looked in; and his eyes
opened wider as he displayed his beautifully white teeth in a pleasant
smile.

"What do you think of this?" cried Mark, as he checked himself in laying
his hand upon the scar of the pigmy's wounded shoulder and placed it
upon his right.

And now for the first time the little fellow displayed animation, for he
snatched the hand away quickly and placed it upon the scar.

"Oh, very well," said Mark. "I was afraid of hurting you. Well, Mak,
aren't you surprised?"

The black shook his head, and then quietly nodded it.

"Come," he said. "Pig come."

"Thank you," said Mark, laughing; "but we knew that. Well, we will
chance whether the boss likes it or not; tell Dan we shall want some
breakfast before we start."

"Yes, mps," said the black, nodding his head. "Coff. Plenty eat;" and
he went away.

"Well, jump down, little one," said Mark. "Come on, Dean; there's a
splendid chance here for a dip, so let's go and have one. Pig here
won't mind."

He leaped down, and